Red Bull Announces First Sky-High Urban Snowboard Event to Take Place in New York City

NEW YORK, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ — On Thursday, February 5, 2009, iconic snowboarders including Olympic Gold Medalist
Shaun White, freestyle / backcountry legend
Travis Rice, ultra-progressive phenomenon
Pat Moore along with 13 other pro riders will compete against the majestic backdrop of the New York City skyline in a contest that will prove to be the biggest winter event to come to New York City.

Sixteen of the world’s best snowboarders will compete to own a piece of the $100,000 prize purse as Anthrax and other soon to be announced music acts perform live, giving the crowd a show they’ll never forget. Red Bull Snowscrapers marks the debut of the largest snowboarding contest held in an urban setting in North America, complete with music acts and a spectator village located in East River Park (corner of Houston Street and FDR).

BIG AIR IN THE BIG APPLE

OWNING THE MANHATTAN SKYLINE

For the first-time ever,
Red Bull will create a towering 90-foot tall, state-of-the-art structure for top riders to own the iconic Manhattan skyline. The athletes will charge down the nine-story structure before flying off the specially constructed ramp toward an immense 80-foot long hip landing area. The innovative hip, built by world-renowned designers
Frank Wells and
Mike Bettera of Snow Park Technology, allows riders multiple angles of trajectory, landing on either the right or left side of the massive 45-degree spine. Additionally, the ramp design will allow spectators to get up close and personal, giving fans an opportunity to experience the action first hand as the riders spin roughly four stories into the sky.

A NEW YORKSTATE OF MIND

New York spectators may deem them insane, but for the competitors, pushing the limits is a constant frame of mind. Although both their skill and style will be put to the test, the challenge here lies in the Red Bull Snowscrapers unique double-sided pyramid landing that pushes the envelope of big-air competition and rider adaptability.

With so many angles of approach, options, and opportunity, the athlete who ultimately conquers the ramp may be determined by their creative state of mind. And that creativity will be rewarded handsomely with a hefty $50,000 awarded to the winner. With so much on the line,
Red Bull left nothing to chance, and will be enlisting a panel of internationally licensed judges to score the event.